Subject: Re: [FFML] (essay) Alternative Universe Stories
From: David Johnston
Date: 9/19/1997, 4:10 PM
To: eric.adams@decisionone.COM, eda104@erols.com
CC: Gary Kleppe <KLEPPE@execpc.com>, FFML <fanfic@fanfic.com>

Eric Adams wrote:

Gary Kleppe wrote:

On Thu, 18 Sep 1997 18:37:31 -0500 (CDT), Scott Jamison
<majks@cyberx.com> wrote:

1. THE PREMISE. As Scott said, you start from a basic idea or "what-if".
These can range from simple (e.g. "What if Ranma had been engaged to
Kasumi instead of Akane?") to much more complicated stuff. Generally,
the simpler the basic idea is, the easier the story will be for the
readers to get a handle on; Though I don't doubt that complicated
premises can be done successfully, they take more work.

Consistency in a premise is a good thing IMO. If character X's tendency
to glomp women for comedic effect in the original makes him a sadistic
rapist in your story, and if character Y does the same thing in the
original, then the premise should apply to Y too -- even if Y is your
favorite character.

I reject that idea.  In an alternate universe Ranma may
be a quivering coward who has never recovered from Genma's
atrocious training methods.  That doesn't mean Akane has to
be the same, even though they are somewhat similar in the main
timeline.  The whole point may be to contrast how Akane would
react to a Ranma who wasn't a kindred spirit.  

What I do object to though, are alternate universes where the
differences don't make a difference.  Take the Ranma alternates
where Ranma is really a girl cursed as a boy.  Assuming that's
the only change, what would really have happened?  

1.  Ranma arrives in the rain, and is embraced by Soun, who
rushes him into the family room to make his choice.  There,
Nabiki thinks Ranma is cute, and not knowing of the curse
immediately stakes her claim, pointing out that Kasumi thinks
Ranma is too young, and Akane doesn't have much use for boys
or arranged engagements.  Kasumi agrees and Akane doesn't 
disagree, and we're off.  Ranma is left with the choice
of whether to conceal her true nature (leaving her with
a forced lesbian engagement) or admit it and suffer 
the reactions of the Tendos.  When Shampoo, Ukyo and
Ryoga show up, they'll have or develop different 
relationships with her, and with each other.

That's the sort of thing I think _should_ happen in an
alternate universe.  Based on the established intentions
of the unchanged characters, that's what probably would
have happened, without the complication of Ranma's apparent
gender. 

Instead, all too often, these alternate versions go through
faithful renditions of what really happened, regardless of 
whether it makes sense.  It is my opinion that you should
generally stick to a change which can be conveyed in one 
uncompounded sentence, and having done so, you actually 
work out the plausible ramifications of the change.  


but thats not necessarily true.  difference choices can make all the
difference.  In fact sometimes drawing sharp contrasts to two similiar
characters helps better define them.  If Y is your favorite character
you're going to cast Y in the best possible light.  *ponder* In other
words you're going attempt to define Y clearer then X.  Since Y will be
a more defined and multi faceted character then X she will obviously
have more choices availabe.

I don't agree either.  I wrote "Another Letter" (which is 
functionally an alternate universe story, or at least the 
start of one) just to fix up the character I had the least 
use for.  It was because I don't like Kuno as he is really 
portrayed, that I tried to take a deeper look.  





      Well, I hope this essay has been useful to you, or at least not
too boring.
I hope the same for this addition.

i have one question what about future stories?  They are almost
alternate universe stories as well.

That depends.  Stories where Ranma and Akane eventually
get together, along with Ryoga and Akari, Shampoo and Mousse, 
aren't.  Ones where any of those couples don't end up together
are, because that is obviously where the main timeline is 
heading.  Note that it is not obvious to me at all that
Ukyo and Konatsu will get together or Nabiki and Kuno.  
Yes, I did the latter, but only by postulating a rather
unlikely change in Kuno's personality.  

In any case, future alternates obviously don't suffer 
from the same constraints as past alternates.

Somebody really should do a story where Ukyo and Konatsu
get together.  Somebody who knows who the heck Konatsu
is.  I've got an uncomfortable feeling that I would have
never created Kouchi Yamazaki, if I'd seen anything with
Konatsu in it.